Christmas Tree

With so many changes this year we were thankful that we still were able to celebrate Christmas with all the kids and staff as a family. It was a busy and happy time for everybody decorating a Christmas tree together.

Freddy was so excited when he heard that there would be a Christmas party. He told his nanny that there will be a beautiful tree in the room and Santa will come to pass the presents to everyone. He does remember that "Santa" showed up every single Christmas. 

Freddy and James were the first two to start decorating the tree (like pros) with the ornaments when they saw the tree set up in the room. The other children saw them decorating the tree and started helping them.

It takes effort for the CP kids to do this, but they couldn't wait to help. Stephanie was sitting on the floor watching what was going on in the room, and she bubbled with joy when she saw something new and interesting.

When it was her turn to decorate, Lydia (project coordinator) was standing behind her ready to help. Lydia thought she needed to help Stephanie with lifting her arm to reach the branch, but instead Stephanie stretched out her arm herself to reach the branch. Lydia was surprised and very proud of her.

Lydia said the reason Stephanie can reach her arm herself was because her nannies work on her stretching daily. It's the benefit from what they do.

Stephanie can also now speak a couple simple words like JieJie (Sister), Mama (Mom), Peng Peng (Austyn's Chinese name), Xi Yang (James' Chinese name), Ming Ming (Freddy's Chinese name), etc. She understands a lot when somebody talks to her.

You Are My Buddy

There are 27 kids in our New Day North project. They live together, learn together and live like family, they are brothers and sisters.

There are two boys who are extremely close—James and Freddy.

Freddy and James both came to New Day Foster Home in 2015.

They became good friends

They ate together

Went to school together

Played together.

They both love outdoor activities, 

and enjoy reading and drawing.

When all the kids had to return to their orphanages the beginning of 2019, James and Freddy returned to the same orphanage and moved into the same room. Having a close friend helped them feel better about leaving the place they were familiar with and all the new changes. 

Especially James—

Freddy was his buddy. He wouldn’t go anywhere without Freddy

When he finds an interesting toy he shares it with Freddy. If Freddy takes his toy, James doesn’t say anything.

Their nanny saw this and told them, “James, you’ll spoil him!” James just gave her a smile…

Oh the difference the love of a friend makes.

Let Them Be Little

Our children have gone through so much in their short lives, way more than any child should have to go through. They know the feeling of abandonment and have spent too many nights in hospitals. 

Because of their past is it even more important to let them be little. To give them normal childhood experiences that are full of joy and exploration. 

It is even more important to show them how loved they are and to teach them how to love.

Our kids have missed out on so much. So many first have come way too late and so many simple joys have been missed.

So, we take every opportunity to let them be kids. To let them experience the joys of childhood and to create memories that will bring smiles in the years to come. 

Playing in the rain is one of the little things we like to do to let our kids be little!

Music Time!

Every Thursday a music teacher visits our preschool class! We all love her and the kids have so much fun. We thought you might like a little peek into our music class.

Austyn is ready

James, does that tickle?

Freddy, is that funny?

Yay!

Maggie claps her hands

Sophie touches her shoulders

Let's dance!

Josie and Maggie are having so much fun

All that music made everyone pretty tired!

Look Outside!

It may be spring, but like many places in the United States the weather is telling us differently!

Last week we looked outside and it wasn't raining, it wasn't snowing, it was sleeting!

Freddy, James, and Maggie were all amazed!

They would tell everyone to look outside to see what was happening.

Smiles filled their faces and they even got to go outside to feel the sleet!

We loved seeing their excitement and allowing them to experience new things, but we are all more than ready for spring to come and stay!

International Women's Day 2018

March 8th is a day to honor and celebrate women around the world. Here at New Day we are blessed to work alongside so many phenomenal women. In China Women's Day is celebrated by giving women half of a day off work, and we want to acknowledge how amazing the women of New Day are.

Mother Teresa said, “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” The women of New Day are casting ripples one child at a time and changing the world because of it.

Women like our nannies. They work tirelessly and love enormously. The nannies care for the children as if they were their own and give them the individual attention they deserve. The nannies spend countless hours away from their own families next to hospital beds and sacrifice daily to care for the children. As the children that they love are adopted they continually open their hearts to the new children that arrive. They provide care, comfort, and unconditional love each and every day.

Women like our foster mamas. They gladly open their homes to children and love them like they are their own. The foster mamas teach their children how to love and what it means to be in a family. They are the ones that put the children to bed at night and are there when they wake up in the morning. Our foster mamas are some of the most selfless and joyful people we know and the have changed the world in ways that they have never known.

Women like our medical and therapy staff. These women spend countless hours going to appointments, meeting with doctors, and researching in order to provide the best care possible. They make therapy fun and the children love therapy time because of them.

Women like our teachers and support staff. The teachers not only teach the children their numbers and colors, but they also teach manners, kindness, and most importantly love. The support staff clean, cook, and make sure everything is in order. Without these women things wouldn't be the same. 

Women like our office staff and volunteers. These women are often behind the scenes and tirelessly work to make sure everything goes smoothly. They daily pour themselves out to make sure the children know just how loved they are.

The women at New Day are daily casting stones that are creating ripples that we truly believe are changing the world!